“If you ask me if there is an attempt of deviation of the regime, I will answer to you yes, but on an individual level”, said Themis Sofos, member of the Governing Council of the Bar Association of Athens. By individual level he meant the Greek Minister of Citizens Protection Mr. Michalis Chrysochoides. As he further explained he did not detect any such intentions from other members of the government. He concluded: “The word deviation has the meaning of a complete overthrow of the constitutional institutions and I think such an overthrow is not possible, on the individual level of one Minister to influence the institutional and constitutional foundations of the functioning of the regime”.
Mr. Sofos was supported in the elections of the Bar Association of Athens by the ruling party of New Democracy. He occupied the post of Vice-President of the Bar Association of Athens until recently, when he resigned protesting for a “corona-Party” organized by the President of the Bar Association, in spite of the measures to combat the pandemic. He has also asked long ago for the removal of Mr. Chrysochoides from the post of Minister because of police brutality. What he said is more important because of his political origins.
To the great surprise of everybody this center-right lawyer, considering that the Koufontinas’ case is a flagrant violation of the rule of law of much wider significance for democracy, not only expressed his disagreement with the government handling of the issue but he has also cooperated with Koufontinas’ lawyers and defended his case in the court of Lamia.
Speaking to the Greek Parliament recently, Mr. Varoufakis implied clearly that Mr. Chrysochoides was appointed by the US Ambassador to Athens. Nobody has commented on his remark.
Nowadays, Ministers of Public Order seem to play the role of Eurogroup members during the previous European crisis.
We hope that Mr. Sofos is right to see the problem only to Chrychoides. Unfortunately it is just hard to believe it.
D.K.
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